THE GOAL: Staying Fit, While Still Chopping Life #NaijaLiving
The first post of 2020, hey!
Idris and I putting in that Million Dollar Baby werk. 🥊
I write this as I sit in bed, and look for the motivation to stand on my two feet. It is a beautiful day, here, on Victoria Island. The weather is consistently perfect, and we had a great night that lead into the early morning. In the past three weeks, two of my siblings and two of my close cousins were married, and Nigeria has continued to treat us all well. …I’m tired, though, and I don’t bounce back from these long nights the way I used to. Lol. 🙃 All in all, it has been amazing. I am so blessed for the continued opportunities, and the memories we have shared. I can’t even begin to encapsulate all of them.
My biggest guiding light was for me to make sure that I kept my life in motion. I don’t look at these extended trips to Nigeria as a vacation. I view it as a return home, where life must continue. Aside from tying loose ends, and ensuring everything that needed to be done on U.S. soil was completed before takeoff, a major point of contention was (and still is, until departure) ensuring I stay active. Last year, I gained a hard ten points. A quantifiable figure of solid weight. It was inexcusable. From the food I ate at the airport, to exercising only once, to overindulging in all of the foods I missed, then to eating sweet bread and fried eggs every single morning, and sweet bread and Milo every other evening. Lol. I was living the life. This year, I could not allow that to happen again!! I came too far in this one year to throw it all away in five weeks.
Bicep reps with my trainer, Idris!
As soon as we landed, I hit the ground running. But, let me rewind first. As mentioned previously, nutrition is a pejorative component to the weight loss and weight maintenance process. Fresh fruits and vegetables aren’t always the easiest to come by in Nigeria. There are a lot of variables and factors that contribute to the scarcity. This year, that was not going to be an excuse for me. I went to Amazon.com, and ordered different flavors of greens. “Greens” are compressed powders of one to two daily servings of fruits, veggies, and typically other beneficial nutrients. I stocked up on berry flavor, original greens flavor, and, of course, chocolate. The only way for me to kick that Milo craving was for me to have an equal substitute. Truthfully, it has helped diminish the cravings immensely. But, being the environment that we’re in, sugar is different. So, typically all the wedding cake that I would save room for… was fruit cake. It’s not a typical favorite of mine, and being that Nigerian cake isn’t as sweet or soft as American cakes, the general withdraw and lack-thereof that American sugar, I haven’t had much to fuel that craving.
Egg white omelette, complete with sautéed mushrooms and mixed roasted vegetables at the Radisson Ikeja.
The day before our flight, I had a hard workout at OTF (Orange Theory Fitness), while in Jersey, that would last me the next two days, and 14 hours in a plane. Believe me, I felt everything, until my next workout. Which, because I had to keep my momentum going, was the day after we landed. I was able to get direct access to a trainer while in Ikeja, that worked with me at the hotel, complimentary of the Radissan. HE. WORKED. ME. OUT. We boxed, did cardio, sparred, lifted, shadow boxed, slap boxed… what else?! The day before we traveled to the East (Onitsha), we went for a solid two hours. The results, impeccable, but I could not have been more blessed, and more pleased to have him there. The food, by the way, was another gift from above. Their selection of cooked vegetables and proteins was sublime. Oh my gosh. If I could eat like that every day, there’s no reason I would want anything else. 🤤
My regime continued when we arrived home, in Onitsha. My sister purchased resistance bands and hip bands, and enyi nwa nnem nwanyi (my sister’s friend) brought along a jump rope. In addition, within the first day, or two, I purchased dumbbells from the local pharmacy. I tried, oo. I created a little in-home gym in our garage, and made a routine outside where I got a good sweat that all of the mopol approved. 💀 I was fortunate though, because those HOT workouts took a lot out of me, (I’m not training my lungs for summer lacrosse the way I used to, okay. I don’t workout in 100 degree dry heat these days, but I am not foreign to the practice.) my brother, Chu-Chu and I started going to the Soprom hotel, inside our local GRA to exercise early in the morning. (Side note: that gym is also a lounge, I swear. But also, anything in Nigeria can be a lounge or club, if you let it.) (Double side note: I’m not joking, we also had a car wash and lounge not too far ahead. Lol.) That was a great help, and I could run longer and lift heavier with the equipment diversity.
Carrots, mushrooms, broccoli, mashed sweet potatoes, and seafood.
I coupled these workouts with the key element: nutrition. I meal prepped, y’all! Yes, I meal prepped in Onitsha. It’s just not an excuse anymore. The “When in Rome” mentality can only follow us for so long. It’s not the case that I have to try everything. When we went to ShopRite, I filled our carts with the freshest vegetables I could find. My sister also reminded us all of a natural remedy to clean fruits and vegetables (lemon and vinegar) that she prepared for, as well. I created a selection of 2.5 different meals to serve its purpose during our downtime, and in between time.
Shouts to my sister for traveling with her iPad, because Lord knows I left all my devices at home.
As I write this, my in-room dining just arrived, and it serves as the constant reminder that moderation is key. It’s not every day that I need a full breakfast, and it’s okay to indulge in the epicurious wonders of the region. As our trip comes to a close, and I choose to trade my morning workout for a day or writing in bed, and afternoon pancakes. I am relying on the discipline and determination that has gotten me this far, as I make a promise to complete a workout this evening, and tomorrow morning before the next journey.